Tuesday, August 18, 2009

SASKATCHEWAN TEMPORARY LICENSE


INTERNATIONAL DOCTORS TEMPORARY REGISTERATION
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Alternative licensure for physicians with international medical qualifications.
Most physicians with international medical credentials do not meet the requirements for full, unrestricted, licensure. The Saskatchewan College's philosophy that underlies its licensing rules that permit granting alternative forms of licensure to such physicians is to:

permit physicians who do not meet all of the criteria for full licensure, but who meet certain minimum defined standards, to enter into a form of restricted practice;
require physicians to meet the criteria for full licensure (Royal College certification for physicians with specialist credentials, all the required postgraduate training for family physicians and the three Medical Council of Canada examinations for all physicians) within a defined time schedule;
provide physicians the opportunity to practice on a temporary license for a period of time before being required to commit on a longer-term basis to practice in Saskatchewan, or to practice in a particular Saskatchewan community;
provide stability of medical care by requiring physicians who obtain such alternative licenses to commit to a defined period of practice in a Saskatchewan community as a condition of obtaining such a license;
ensure that physicians working on a temporary license have a named physician who is responsible to assist the physician in becoming aware of Saskatchewan practice issues.
Paragraph 9 - Categories of license available
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan offers the following forms of licensure to physicians:

Temporary licenses (also referred to as locum tenens permits) - for family physicians. A physician who has:
completed 24 months of approved postgraduate training (see paragraph 13 below); and
either full licensure in the country in which their training was obtained or the MCCEE, USMLE or FLEX
may be eligible for a temporary, unsupervised, license. A physician who has completed 12 months of approved postgraduate training may be eligible for a temporary, supervised, license (See Paragraph 14 (2) below for details). A temporary license is limited to 12 months and cannot generally be extended or renewed. A physician practicing under a temporary license must be sponsored by a physician who has full or provisional licensure with the College.

Temporary licenses (also referred to as locum tenens permits) for physicians with specialty credentials. A physician who has:
a specialty designation from Canada, the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand that is acceptable to the Council; and either
full registration with the regulatory body granting the qualification; or
MCCEE, USMLE or FLEX
may be eligible for a temporary license.

A temporary license is limited to 12 months and cannot generally be extended or renewed. A physician practicing under a temporary license must be sponsored by a physician who has full or provisional licensure with the College.

Provisional licenses - for family physicians. These are available to physicians who have 24 months of approved postgraduate training and either full licensure with the country in which their training was taken or a pass standing in the MCCEE. A physician must make a commitment to remain in a named Saskatchewan community for 3 years in order to obtain a provisional license. The physician must write the MCCEE at the next opportunity and must pass the MCCEE within 2 years. The physician must pass the MCCQE Part I within 4 years and must pass the MCCQE Part II within 5 years. If the physician obtains the LMCC, the physician will be eligible for a full license.

Provisional licenses - for physicians with specialist qualifications. These are available to physicians who are certification eligible with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. A physician must make a commitment to remain in a named Saskatchewan community for 3 years in order to obtain a provisional license. The physician must obtain Royal College certification within the period of Royal College certification-eligibility (usually 3 years) and must obtain the LMCC within 5 years. A physician who obtains certification and who obtains the LMCC will be granted a full license.

Special licenses - There are several categories of special licenses, generally only for physicians with specialty credentials. These include:
special licenses for psychiatrists to work for the Government of Saskatchewan, a district health board or the Regional Psychiatric Centre. Such licenses are offered to physicians who hold certification in psychiatry from a program accepted by Saskatchewan and for whom a special request is made by the Saskatchewan Minister of Health. Such licenses are only valid while the physician continues to work for the employer that hired them.
special licenses for oncologists who have been offered a position by the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency if a special request is made by the Minister of Health. Such licenses are only valid while the physician continues to work for the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency.
special licenses for Medical Health officers who have been offered a position as a Medical Health Officer by a district health board, who have a Masters degree in public health from a program recognized in Saskatchewan and for whom a special request is made by the Saskatchewan Minister of Health. Such licenses are only valid while the physician continues to work for the district health board that employed them.
special licenses for physicians who are not certification eligible with the Royal College but who meet other defined criteria. There must be an unmet need for the physician's services that cannot be met by a Royal College certified or certification-eligible physician. The physician must hold specialty credentials that are recognized by the Saskatchewan College. The physician must have undergone an assessment of their skills and knowledge. The physician must agree to take an examination in their specialty when such an examination becomes available. The physician must attain the LMCC within 5 years. The physician must make a commitment to remain in a named Saskatchewan community for a period of 3 years.

FOREIGN DOCTORS PROGRAM IN NFL


Skills Assessment and Training Program (CSAT)

General Information
Eligibility
Application
Selection
Contact

General Information
The Clinical Skills Assessment and Training Program (CSAT) is designed to assess core knowledge, skills and competencies of physicians in a general/family practice setting. It provides specific, individualized training, as prescribed by the assessment process, and evaluates the effectiveness of the training through in-training evaluation and, in some situations, a re-assessment.

The Program was established in December 1997 within the Professional Development Department, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland. It operates from Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. Administration of the program is provided by a faculty appointed Director, and a Coordinator. A Medical Advisory Board with representation from the Faculty of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland & Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, and Newfoundland and Labrador Health Boards Association provides ongoing policy guidance to the program. An Academic Advisory Committee provides advice on academic matters within the program. Clinical disciplines within the Faculty of Medicine, Professional Development, and rural medicine are represented on this committee. The Program is further supported by a network of faculty assessors and preceptors from each discipline, who provide assessment and supervision for clinical trainees, depending upon the participants individualized need.

Number of Positions a Year:
The CSAT Program is designed to be individualized. There are no preset dates for assessments. When a physician candidate has been determined to meet the eligibility criteria for entrance in the CSAT Program a date is established that is mutually agreeable to the physician candidate and the CSAT Program. The CSAT Program is able to accommodate any predetermined time frames for the assessment that may be established by the provincial medical regulatory authority. The CSAT Program is able to provide on average 4 individual assessments each month.

Language of Testing, Assessment and Training: The CSAT Program is provided in English only. Demonstrated fluency in English is required as determined by the referring provincial medical regulatory authority.

Dates and Deadlines: Check with the CSAT Program office for individual appointment times. Csat@swgc.mun.ca Telephone: (709) 639-2728 Fax: (709) 634-9175

Prior Postgraduate Training: Postgraduate training is determined by the referring provincial medical regulatory authority.

Recency of Practice/Clinical Training Criteria:
Physician Candidates for the CSAT Program will have to meet the practice and training criteria as established by the referring provincial medical regulatory authority.

Discipline Offered: Family Practice

Return-of-Service Agreement (ROS): Physicians entering the CSAT Program referred by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador are required to be sponsored by a Hospital Board or Health Authority. This sponsorship may be in the form of financial assistance for the CSAT Program in which a return-of-service (ROS) agreement is then required. The length of the ROS will be dependent on the amount of financial support and is usually two years in duration. When sponsorship does not include financial support for the CSAT assessment and training, there is not a ROS requirement.

Duration:
The assessment portion of the CSAT Program is two days. There are four assessment examinations, two each day for two consecutive days.

Location:
The CSAT assessments are held at:
CSAT Program Office
Room 420, 4th Floor
Western Memorial Regional Hospital
P.O. Box 2005, 1 Brookfield Avenue
Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador
A2H 6J7

The CSAT Program is located on the west coast of the province and is 55km from the nearest airport in Deer Lake, Newfoundland. Bus and taxi service meets all flights. A resident type accommodation is available at $15 a night with advanced reservation through the CSAT Program.

FOREIGN GRADUATES GET CHANCE IN ALBERTA


Foreign doctors get chance to practice
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New guidelines from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta are helping foreign trained doctors maintain their skills while they wait for their licence to practice in Canada.



"Not only your confidence as a physician comes back but also you get the feeling of doing something really meaningful," says Nicodeme Mugisho, a doctor who arrived from Congo less than two years ago.



Mugisho can't practice in Calgary until he passes all his qualifying exams and finds a residency position which usually takes about four years.



New guidelines allow foreign medical grads to work as aides in medical clinics while they wait for their licence.



Mugisho works at a walk-in clinic and, under the supervision of doctors, is able to do a variety of things like stitching wounds, giving needs and swabbing throats.



"I think it's a nice way for them to work on their English skills and to try to remember some of the skills they may have gotten rusty on...it's better than having them work in a grocery store," says Dr. Randall Neu a family physician who works with Mugisho.



In addition to these kind of opportunties to work in family practices, another program for International Medical Graduates gives them the chance to work as Clinical Assistants in a hospital.

There are around 600 foreign trained doctors living in Alberta waiting to get their licence.


The AIMG Program office is located at:

Room G212, Health Sciences Centre,
University of Calgary,
3330 Hospital Drive, NW,
Calgary Alberta
T2N 4N1

General Program Inquiries: 403.210.7790

Specific Application and Assessment Inquiries: 403.210.3999 or 403.210.9840
Fax Number: 403.210.8166

Toll Free Phone Number (Alberta only): 1.866.810.8184

Email Inquiries: aimg@ucalgary.ca

Change of Address: AIMG Program Change of
Address Form


The office is open for inquiries:
Monday to Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.,
Friday 8:30 a.m. – noon (Mountain Time)

Alberta International Medical Graduates Association
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205 - 1409 Edmonton Trail NE

Calgary, Alberta, T2G 3K8

Phone: (403) 520-7730

Toll Free: 1-877-520-7730

www.aimga.ca

Monday, August 17, 2009

FOREIGN DOCTORS PROGRAMME IN MANNITOBA


OPPORTUNITY FOR FOREIGN DOCTORS
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FOREIGN-TRAINED doctors will soon find it easier to work in Manitoba, thanks to a new provincial licensing program in the works.The program is designed to ease the province's doctor shortage and to meet the humanitarian needs of international medical graduates. And if it is fully implemented, it will make Manitoba one of the more progressive jurisdictions in North America for the licensing of foreign-trained doctors.Sources have confirmed the new initiative, still in its infancy, involves language training and clinical skills assessment and upgrading. It would also involve some level of income support for participants until they begin to work.Dr. Bill Pope, head of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, said the new initiative could dramatically streamline the process for qualified foreign doctors. The system would also offer the public more than adequate assurance all doctors met Canadian standards."What we're trying to do is provide something to allow individuals with potential to undergo an assessment process in which we have confidence," said Pope. "I think this could be quite successful for all parties."Doctors who arrive in Canada as immigrants or refugees are generally discouraged from seeking a medical licence. Those who still wish to pursue a career in medicine must negotiate a complicated and costly series of evaluating and licensing examinations, without government assistance for language or academic upgrading.For those who pass the examinations, there are still barriers. In both Canada and the United States, foreign-trained doctors are required to perform up to two years in a hospital resident program. However, they have generally been systemically excluded from the resident programs, creating a maddening Catch-22.As immigrants with little in the way of financial resources, these doctors are also expected to pay for their examination fees and other academic costs with no government help.The Manitoba Human Rights Commission is considering a complaint from a Winnipegger who charges he has been denied a medical licence because of systemic discrimination.Health Minister Dave Chomiak would not be interviewed for this story. However, during the last provincial election, Chomiak said his party has always believed foreign-trained doctors were not given a fair chance to prove they have the skills and knowledge to practise medicine in Canada.And with a continent-wide shortage of physicians, Chomiak said he wanted to make it a priority to open up new opportunities for the foreign-trained.The Association of Foreign Medical Graduates would not comment on the new initiative until all its members had been consulted. However, Byron Williams, a lawyer with the Public Interest Law Centre who represents the association, said most foreign-trained doctors are still somewhat skeptical about the province's plans.Williams said the province's proposal will do little for those who already live in Manitoba and who may have been out of practice for many years. There is also concern the province has done nothing to address concerns about the national resident matching service that is the focal point of complaints of systemic discrimination.Currently, international medical graduates (IMGs) are not allowed to compete for residency positions with Canadian graduates in the first round of the national resident matching service. IMGs are allowed to compete in a second round, but few have found residency positions through that avenue."Any step forward is positive," said Williams. "But this is just a modest step forward for a minority of IMGs. The system still discriminates against IMGs."Highlights of the new initiative include:Specialized language training, in conjunction with Red River College, to allow IMGs to study English in a medical context.Admission to a three-week preparatory course at the University of Manitoba for medical students about to write national licensing exams.For those wishing to practise as family physicians, access to a skill enhancement program, which will allow the applicant to take up to three rotations in a one-year period.Access to a conditional medical licence, which gives the applicants up to five years to complete full national licensing exams while practising medicine.Income and expense supports to help the doctors support themselves and their families while pursuing a medical licence.After a provincial skills assessment, doctors will be allowed a period of one year to attend up to three hospital resident rotations. If, after another assessment, the doctors have still not demonstrated adequate skills, they will be allowed to repeat one rotation.Those who meet the requirements of the skills assessment will be allowed to practise medicine under a conditional licence issued by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba. Within five years, the doctor will be expected to complete the second part of the national licensing examination, which is required for anyone wishing to practise medicine in Canada.Farther down the road, the province will attempt to move those doctors who cannot meet the requirements for a conditional licence into other professions, such as radiation therapy, nursing or laboratory technician.Sources say it could cost more than $82,000 for each IMG who successfully completes the program. The costs include $47,000 for evaluating and licensing examinations, skills assessment and language training, and another $35,000 for income support.Barbara Hague, director of workforce policy for Manitoba Health, would not discuss specifics of the new system but noted any IMG licensing system must include measures to ensure applicants meet all professional standards to practice in Canada.Doctors will still be expected to complete a national clinical skills evaluating examination, as well as a two-part licensing examination, said Hague. All are currently required for anyone wishing to practise medicine in Canada, regardless of where they were trained.

CANADIAN COLLEGES OF PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS


INFO ABOUT MEDICAL LICENSURE
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Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec [in French only]
Saskatchewan
Provincial and territorial licensing authorities
Alberta
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA)
2700 - 10020 100 St. NW
Edmonton AB T5J 0N3 Canada
Phone : (780) 423-4764
Phone (alternate): 1-800-561-3899
Fax : (780) 420-0651
Email : info@cpsa.ab.ca
http://www.cpsa.ab.ca/
British Columbia
College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC)
400 - 858 Beatty Street
Vancouver BC V6B 1C1 Canada
Phone : (604) 733-7758
Phone (alternate): 1-800-461-3008
Fax : (604) 733-3503
Email : registration@cpsbc.ca
https://www.cpsbc.ca/cps
Manitoba
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM)
1000 - 1661 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg MB R3J 3T7 Canada
Phone : (204) 774-4344
Fax : (204) 774-0750
Email : cpsm@cpsm.mb.ca
http://www.cpsm.mb.ca/
New Brunswick
College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick (CPSNB)
One Hampton Road, Suite 300
Rothesay NB E2E 5K8 Canada
Phone : (506) 849-5050
Phone (alternate): 1-800-667-4641
Fax : (506) 849-5069
Email : info@cpsnb.org
http://www.cpsnb.org/
Newfoundland and Labrador
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland & Labrador (CPSNL)
139 Water Street, Unit 603
St. John's NL A1C 1B2 Canada
Phone : (709) 726-8546
Fax : (709) 726-4725
Email : cpsnl@cpsnl.ca
http://www.cpsnl.ca/
Northwest Territories
Department of Health and Social Services, NWT
P.O. Box 1320
Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9 Canada
Phone : (867) 920-8058
Fax : (867) 873-0484
Email : jeannette_hall@gov.nt.ca
http://www.hlthss.gov.nt.ca/
Nova Scotia
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia (CPSNS)
1559 Brunswick St., Suite 300
Halifax NS B3J 2G1 Canada
Phone : (902) 422-5823
Phone (alternate): 1-877-282-7767
Fax : (902) 422-5035
Email : registration@cpsns.ns.ca
http://www.cpsns.ns.ca/
Nunavut
Professional Licensing, Medical Registration Committee, Department of Health and Social Services, Government of Nunavut
Box 390
Kugluktuk NU X0B 0E0 Canada
Phone : (867) 982-1672
Fax : (867) 982-3256
Email : bvandenassem@gov.nu.ca
http://www.nunavut-physicians.gov.nu.ca/licensing.shtml
Ontario
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO)
80 College Street
Toronto ON M5G 2E2 Canada
Phone : (416)-967-2603
Phone (alternate): 1-800-268-7096 ext 603
Email : feedback@cpso.on.ca
http://www.cpso.on.ca/
Prince Edward Island
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Prince Edward Island (CPSPEI)
199 Grafton St.
Charlottetown PE C1A 1L2 Canada
Phone : (902) 566-3861
Fax : (902) 566-3986
Email : cmoyse@collegeofphysicians.pe.ca
http://www.cpspei.ca/
Quebec
Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ)
2170, boul. René-Lévesque Ouest
Montréal QC H3H 2T8 Canada
Phone : 514-933-4441
Phone (alternate): 1-888-633-3246
Fax : 514-933-3112
Email : info@cmq.org
http://www.cmq.org/
Saskatchewan
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CPSS)
500-321A-21st Street East
Saskatoon SK S7K 0C1 Canada
Phone : (306) 244-7355
Fax : (306) 244-2600
Email : cpss@quadrant.net
http://www.quadrant.net/cpss/
Yukon
Yukon Medical Council
Box 2703 (C-18)
Whitehorse YT Y1A 2C6 Canada
Phone : (867) 667-3774
Fax : (867) 393-6483
Email : ymc@gov.yk.ca
http://www.yukonmedicalcouncil.ca/

FOREIGN DOCTORS LICENSURE


CEHPEA
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CEHPEA will now only conduct specialty assessments at the request of health care facilities and medical schools as positions become available and based on acceptable funding arrangements. We expect that this change will further streamline the process for internationally educated specialists seeking positions in Ontario. If you have questions about specialty positions in Ontario, please contact the HealthForceOntario Access Centre at:
Toronto: 416-862-2200North America: 1-800-596-4046International: 1-800-596-4046 ext 4

Sunday, July 12, 2009

USEFUL WEB SITES FOR IMG


IMG INFORMATION WEB SITES
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HealthForceOntario Access Centre - The HealthForceOntario Access Centre is a place where internationally trained and educated health professionals can learn how to qualify for professional practice in Ontario's regulated health professions . * New



www.MCCexams.com - Medical Council of Canada Items for SALE * New



Canadian Information Centre for International Medical Graduates



Student Loans - Background and detailed information on the process and eligibility: National Student Loans Service Centre; How Student Loans Work; Before You Apply; Getting the Money You Need; BC Student Loans Office



Health Council of Canada



Ontario Resource for International Medical Graduates - a rich resource for IMG's in other provinces as well.



The IMG in Canada - a private site offering information and services toward licensure in Canada and the USA.



University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine



Bridge to Your Future: A comprehensive guide to immigration and settlement in BC for skilled and professional workers